Improving organizational learning capability: lessons from two case studies

This paper describes a diagnostic tool to benchmark improvements in an organization’s learning capability over time. This diagnostic tool was used by two different organizations that embarked on a change program to improve their learning capability. Access to these two organizations has allowed a diagnostic measure of their learning capability on a longitudinal basis. Measures were taken prior to change efforts being implemented to improve learning capability and then two to three years later to assess whether any improvements have been achieved. Other qualitative information on the interventions they implemented to improve their learning capability was also obtained. The paper draws from these two case studies some conclusions and implications for managing change and specifically for improving the learning capability of an organization.